Education Commons^™

Retention Of African American Male Teachers In Elementary And Middle Schools, Marla West

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe representation of African American male teachers in elementary urban schools has decreased. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to investigate administrators’ and African American male teachers’ perceptions of how administrators are challenged to support the retention of African American male teachers in elementary and middle schools in the focus urban school district. Social, cognitive, and transformational leadership theories were used as a framework to guide the study. Research questions addressed how administrators perceive the ways they support the retention of African American male teachers and how African American male teachers perceive that support. Purposeful sampling was used …

Influence Of An Afterschool Reading Program On Elementary Student Reading Achievement, Chapple Osborne-Arnold

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractMany elementary school students require and may benefit from supplemental reading support and interventions that can be provided by afterschool programs. The problem addressed in this study was that it was not known if third grade students benefited from an afterschool reading program in one East Tennessee District. The purpose of this quantitative study was to compare end of year scale scores on the Standardized Test for the Assessment of Reading (STAR) of third grade students who attended the afterschool reading program for 30 or more days and those who did not attend the afterschool reading program while controlling for …

English Language Learner Teachers’ Perspectives Of Professional Development And Their Implementation Of Instructional Practices, Cara Nicole Scales-Judkowitz

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

An increasing number of U.S. teachers of English Language Learners (ELL) across the nation are not receiving adequate in-service training to provide instruction within students’ zone of proximal development (ZPD). Vygotsky’s ZPD is the difference between what a person can achieve when acting alone and what the same person can achieve when acting with support from someone else. ELL instructional practices should be implemented in ELL students’ ZPD to ensure adequate academic performance. A lack of training is a local problem for a school district in the state of Florida. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore …

The Effect Of Instructional Coaching On Third-Grade Reading Achievement, Jane Ann Schmidt

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Instructional coaching has been implemented in schools to improve student achievement; however, literature shows a lack of evidence of the efficacy of improving student reading achievement. The problem addressed in this study was that school districts have implemented instructional coaching to improve student reading achievement, but the effectiveness was unknown. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the effect of instructional coaching on third-grade reading achievement. Guided by Walberg’s theory of achievement, the overall research question investigated the effect of instructional coaching on third-grade reading achievement. In this quantitative, comparative study, ratio-scale data from students who received instructional …

Use Of An Intelligent Tutoring System And Academic Performance In An Online College Course For Pre-Nursing Students, Mark Schmidt

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The efficacy of intelligent tutoring systems (ITS) for undergraduate college level courses was not well established and specifically, the Pearson Dynamic Study Modules (PDSM) program had not been investigated locally. The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine whether the use of an ITS designed with a cognitive learning approach; the PDSM, would enhance pre-nursing student academic performance. The multiple attribute decision making and the human plausible reasoning theories grounded the study. A non-experimental quantitative research design was used to determine whether there was a difference in the assessment scores of pre-nursing students in a college level anatomy and …

Teachers’ Perceptions Of Their Self-Efficacy To Engage Elementary Students In Learning Science, Stacie I. Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Science teachers in the local area lacked self-efficacy to teach science and were struggling to engage students in science learning, which resulted in student underachievement. Principals reported that teachers’ lack of self-efficacy in teaching science may be limiting students’ goals for scientific careers. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore teachers’ perceptions of their sense of self-efficacy to teach science and what they thought were the challenges to enhancing student engagement in science. The conceptual framework was Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy, which connects instruction to the confidence teachers possess in the classroom. Data were collected from individual …

Elementary Teachers’ Perspectives Of Direct Instruction With More Rigorous Mathematics Standards, Sharon Denise Taylor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractMajestic County Schools (pseudonym), a large southeastern school district, has implemented changes in instruction to align with more rigorous state and national mathematics standards. The rigor of the new standards has led to changes in instruction to help students master the standards with evidence from the state-wide standardized test. Although the district has made curricular changes, over one-third of the students in Grades 3-5 at Flint Elementary are not mastering grade-level standards. This basic qualitative study focuses on one elementary school within the district. The purpose was to understand how teachers implement direct instruction (DI) strategies in the classroom to …

How Teachers Promote Academic Success Of Primary Grade Students In Rural Schools By Supporting Their Resilience, Miranda Kay Teston

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Low levels of academic success for primary grade students attending rural schools located in the southern region of the United States may be related to student resilience. Researchers have found that educators can support the development of students’ resilience, which can result in improved academic success, but little is known about how teachers in rural schools promote their students’ academic success by supporting the development of their resilience. Guided by a conceptual framework that combined ecological systems theory with resilience theory, this basic qualitative study explored how rural-school teachers promoted the academic success of primary grade students by supporting the …

African American Women Leader Perspectives On Advancement Strategies In A Community College System, Laquanda Rena Thomas

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractAfrican American women are not retained or advanced in the community college system, resulting in an underrepresentation of African American women in administrative decision-making roles. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to examine the experiences of African American female leaders in the community college setting and to explore the strategies that these women used to obtain these positions. Semistructured interviews were conducted with seven African American women in decision-making roles within a southeastern state’s community college system. Critical race theory and Black feminist theory helped to inform how race and gender impacted the selection of strategies used by …

Relationship Between Perceived Quality Of Student Learning Experience, Perceived Quality Of Mentoring, And Student Satisfaction, George Edwin Thorpe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Entrepreneurship education (EEd) is essential to addressing youth unemployment, which reached 30% in Nigeria in 2018. Understanding the role of learning experience and mentoring is vital for EEd leaders to enhance student satisfaction from self-employment after graduation. Grounded in the direct performance-satisfaction link model of the expectancy disconfirmation theory of customer satisfaction and Kram’s mentor role theory, the purpose of the quantitative correlation study was to examine whether the perceived quality of learning experience and mentoring predicted student satisfaction in EEd institutions. The participants were 47 students of two EEd institutions in Lagos who had completed at least 50% of …

Fidelity Of Implementation Of A Balanced Literacy Program In The Elementary Classroom, Shalonda Young

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe local problem is that literacy in the target school district continues to rank below the state average and the fidelity of implementation (FOI) of balanced literacy (BL) has not been addressed since BL was initiated in 2014 to address student literacy achievement. Teachers reported limited professional development (PD) and lack of motivation to implement BL as designed. The purpose of this basic qualitative research study was to explore elementary English language arts (ELA) teachers’ and support staff personnel’s perceptions of the FOI of a BL program in the target school district ELA classrooms to determine in what ways the …

Elementary Teacher Perceptions Of Blended Learning In The Digital Classroom, Sarah Cummings

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Blended learning is an instructional model in which instruction is delivered using a combination of traditional teaching methods and online learning materials such as digital textbooks, virtual textbooks, and teacher-made videos. The problem was that elementary teachers in local schools were not implementing blended learning as intended by the school’s improvement plan. The purpose of this study was to examine the perspectives of elementary teachers in Grades 3-5 who have experience using blended learning. The framework for the study is the complex adaptive blended learning system (CABLS) because it helps examine the blended learning elements and the changes that result …

Factors That Influenced Post-Secondary Faculty Members' Use Of A D2l Learning Management System, Nadia Navene Edmondson-Kelly

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In 2019, the college administrators at a large 2-year college located in Canada implemented a Learning Management System (LMS) policy for all instructors. The goal of the LMS policy was for faculty members to demonstrate committed professionalism and high degree of competence in teaching. The problem was that instructors underutilized the LMS to provide feedback to students, make course content available in a variety of accessible formats to students, and promote student engagement in learning. In this study, the factors that influenced instructors’ use of the LMS in accordance with the LMS usage policy were explored. The expanded technology acceptance …

Equitable Strategies: Teachers’ Expectations And The Academic Achievement Of African American Males, Danielle R. Green

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many African American males in high school do not acquire the knowledge and information that can make them successful in their education goals. This study focused on African American male high school students regarding the instructional practices that could help them succeed academically, so that teachers can be more successful in their teaching of African American students. The purpose of the qualitative study was to explore teachers’ perspectives on the curriculum, instruction, and assessment practices they believe most influence the academic achievement of African American males. The findings may provide insights into the educational practices that most contribute to African …

Comparing The Assessment Knowledge And Self-Efficacy Of Science, Technology, Engineering, And Mathematics Faculty With Faculty From Other Disciplines, Karen Elizabeth Braley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Based on reported success and retention rates, there is a need to improve education in 2-year colleges for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) majors. Instructors’ assessment knowledge and self-efficacy have not been studied in 2-year or STEM higher education. The problem addressed in this study was that scholars do not know the extent of differences in assessment knowledge and assessment self-efficacy of STEM and non-STEM faculty that could be a contributing factor in student success rates. The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine the extent of differences in STEM and non-STEM instructor assessment knowledge and self-efficacy as …

Understanding Effective Parental Involvement Activities Across Ses, Monique Antoinette Carrington Young

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Parental involvement is pivotal for impoverished middle school students to achieve academic achievement. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship of parental involvement activities and academic achievement for impoverished middle school students. Epstein’s six parental involvement types was the theoretical framework for the research study. The six independent variables of parental involvement were parenting, volunteering, learning at home, decision making, communicating, and collaborating with community The relationship for each parental involvement activated to academic achievement as measured by grade point average was evaluated. A quantitative research design was applied using archival data from the U.S. Department of …

Experiences Of Mechanical Circulatory Support Patients With Primary Implant Education, Dawn Michelle Christensen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Advancement in mechanical circulatory support (MCS) device therapy has led to increased use in heart failure therapy and relies on optimized patient education for successful support. The purpose of this 3-manuscript study, guided by the Husserlian transcendental phenomenological method, was to explore the lived experiences of (a) patients with primary mechanical circulatory support education (PMCSE), (b) patients who undergo unplanned MCS implantation with PMCSE, and (c) patients who undergo planned MCS implantation with PMCSE. Eleven participants were recruited (eight planned, three unplanned) from MCS targeted social media sites and interviewed using a semistructured open-ended question format. Data were analyzed using …

Compassion Fatigue And Resilience In Long-Term Care Nurses, Dierdre C. De Gravina

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between CF and resilience in LTC nurses. Watson’s caring theory was the theoretical foundation for the study. A survey containing demographic questions and items from the Professional Quality of Life Measure and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale survey was administered online to 111 LTC nurses from 10 states across the Eastern Seaboard. A simple linear regression analysis was performed to identify if there was an association between CF and resilience. The results indicated that the model was significant (p<.001). Results revealed an inverse relationship that with higher resilience scores, CF scores were lower and when CF was high, resilience was lower. The study may promote positive social change by highlighting the need for LTC facility managers to identify strategies that foster increased LTC nurse resilience such as improving work environments and developing programs that promote mental and emotional health of LTC nurses. Implementation of these strategies may reduce CF and promote nurse job retention and ultimately improve patient care. Recommendations for future research include quantitative studies to consider the effect of age, length of time in practice, and education level on resiliency and CF and qualitative studies on strategies for increasing resiliency among nurses in LTC facilities.

Organizational Barriers To Effective University Student Mental Health Services, Felicia Evans-Edwards

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study was focused on organizational barriers to effective university student mental health services access in the department of student resources (DSR) at a for-profit university in the northeastern United States. Once such barriers are addressed, faculty may be more successful in reaching out to students needing mental health services who are not self-identifying as needing these services. The Baldrige excellence framework guided this descriptive case study to examine the organizational barriers that prevent university leadership from creating clear policies and procedures for faculty to refer students to mental health services. Data sources included interviews with the behavioral health leader …

Disciplinary Practices Among High School Administrators, Stephanie Ganaway-Pasley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

School administrators are responsible for the safety and physical well-being of the students. Although school disciplinary policies are in place, there is a problem with school administrators' practices and decisions when administering discipline for students' inappropriate behavior. The purpose of this mixed-method study was to explore the disciplinary processes used by school administrators when administering student discipline to determine the relationship between levels of offenses and the gender and race of students. Guided by the theory of justice, this study investigated the relationship between the level of offenses and disciplinary processes that reflect the level of offenses, as described in …

Perceptions Of School Counselors And Teachers Regarding The Communities In Schools Model, Amy M. Gates

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Lower graduation rates among Black, Latino, and low-income students negatively impact individuals, families, and communities. The Communities in Schools (CIS) model was widely used in urban school districts due to suggested positive outcomes butwas underrepresented in current independent research. Using Benet’s polarities of democracy as the theoretical framework, this qualitative case study allowed for the collection and analysis of perceptions of educators within the Atlanta Public Schools (APS). The results of this study suggested social change implications related to increasing manpower in urban high schools and the development and use of comprehensive student support services to reach more at-risk students. …

Blood Stream Infections Related To Hemodialysis Catheter Use, Patricia Goodman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract Hemodialysis is a life-sustaining procedure for patients diagnosed with end-stage renal failure. Most of these patients initiate hemodialysis with a tunneled central venous catheter, with some depending on its use for long-term treatment due to poor vascularity. Catheter-related bloodstream infections in hemodialysis patients are a complication of hemodialysis catheter use with a high morbidity and mortality rate. A quality improvement (QI) project was conducted to answer the practice-focused question of whether the use of chlorhexidine swabs and caps for central venous catheter dressing changes decreased the rate of hemodialysis catheter-related bloodstream infections. Resolution to this problem would benefit the …

Fully Automated Life Support Training Effects On Inpatient, Cardiac Arrest Survival Rates, Adessa D. Goss

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the United States, more than 200,000 adult patients die annually from inpatient cardiac arrest with survival rates stagnated at 22%–25% nationally. Recently, the adoption of fully automated life support training modalities by health care organizations has become widespread with limited literature available showing the effects on inpatient, cardiac arrest survival. The purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate the effects of fully automated life support training on inpatient, cardiac arrest survival. Applying Bloom’s mastery learning theory, the impact of the Resuscitation Quality Improvement (RQI) quarterly training and hospital unit compliance on inpatient cardiac arrest return of spontaneous circulation …

Middle School Administrators’ Perceptions Of The Implementation Of Restorative Practices, Janis Marie Grace

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractPublic school administrators use restorative practices (RPs) as a discipline intervention to reduce student expulsions and suspensions. The problem addressed in this qualitative study was that despite the implementation of RPs in a school district in the Southwestern United States, student misconduct increased. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore middle school administrators’ perceptions regarding the use of RPs to decrease the number of student expulsions and suspensions at the school district. The conceptual framework that grounded this study was Vaandering’s critical theory of restorative justice in education, which supports the need for school administrators to implement …

Administrators’ Perceptions Of Their Role In Increasing Parental Involvement, Jessica Demetria Smith Grant

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Parental involvement is a critical component of student academic achievement. However, parental involvement in a Mid-Atlantic school district was dwindling, specifically in elementary schools. The current study examined school administrators’ roles in involving parents in academic activities at elementary schools in the district. A conceptual framework based on Hoover-Dempsey and Sandler’s process model of parental involvement guides the study. The research questions examined administrators’ roles in increasing parental involvement, possible challenges they face when addressing low parental involvement and underlying factors to low parental involvement. In addition, the study gathered data on administrators’ beliefs about the underlying issue of low …

Early Childhood Teachers' Perspectives Of Their Relationships With Students With Emotional Behavioral Disorders, Tyesha Greene

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract

General education early childhood (EC) teachers may find it challenging to build positive teacher-student relationships (TSRs) with students with emotional behavioral disorders (EBD). There is a gap in practice regarding general education EC teachers’ TSRs with students with EBD and the support they need when teaching these students. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the perspectives of general education EC teachers regarding their TSRs and the support they need when teaching students with EBD. The conceptual framework was Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory of human development. Participants were nine general education EC teachers who were currently …

Leadership Experiences With Organizational Infrastructure In Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Programs, Latia Greer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Lack of buy-in is a critical factor when initiating organizational change. Although changes are necessary for growth and sustainability, leadership can be met with resistance. Early childhood mental health consultation is a solution-focused intervention to support early childcare providers and educators to improve child outcomes. The implementation of the program requires a well-defined operational model to have greater effectiveness and efficiency. The present case study explored the leadership experience of buy-in to change during the implementation of an early childhood mental health consultation school-based program in a nonprofit organization in the Midwest region of the United States. The Baldrige Excellence …

A Meta-Analysis Examining The Efficacy Of Flipped Instruction For Stem Academics, Daphne Marie Gricoski

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractImproving education, particularly for the sciences, is an important and necessary endeavor which can lead to positive social change. Education reform tends to involve updating and aligning curriculum standards without considering methodologies or teaching strategies involved. Identifying evidence-based practices to improve achievement in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) will contribute to improving the education system. Flipped classroom instruction is a pedagogical approach that emphasizes student involvement and engagement in the learning process. There is evidence that active learning strategies improve achievement in STEM academic areas. The purpose of this study was to compare traditional lecture teaching methods to the …

Parents’ Perceptions: Strategies To Motivate Lower-Elementary Children’S Virtual Emergency Learning During Covid-19, Brittany Harden

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

During the 2020–2021 school year, many students were forcibly shifted from traditional in-person learning to virtual emergency response learning (ERL) due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During this shift, many lower-elementary school students suffered socially, emotionally, and academically due to lack of infrastructure, social isolation, and the loss of direct instruction from educators. Because of this loss, many parents had different responsibilities to their children’s social, emotional, and academic well-being. Research has not provided practical, motivational strategies used by parents to motivate their lower-elementary school children during virtual ERL during COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this study was to examine parents’ …

First-Year Mainstream Teachers' Perspectives On Preservice Preparation In English Language Learner Instruction, Sally Hernandez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although the number of English language learners (ELLs) in mainstream classrooms has significantly increased over the past decade, first-year teachers continue to begin their careers without adequate training in ELL instruction. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore first-year mainstream teachers’ perspectives of their preservice course training and field experiences in ELL instruction. The study site was a small west Tennessee school district where 32 students are currently receiving English as a second language (ESL) services. Supported by Kolb’s experiential learning theory, this study was framed by the concept of hands-on experience for learning, which is used by …